Laboratory incubators create precisely controlled sample conditions ideal for zoology, pharmaceutical research, food science, and cell culture. They use Peltier technology and are free of harmful chemical refrigerants, lowering energy consumption rates.
They offer heavy-duty refrigeration that optimizes airflow, temperature uniformity, and a programmable controller. These features make them ideal for bacteriological cultures and DST in low-resource settings.
Reliability
Vaccine development, stem cell research, and biochemical reactions all require the reliable environment that incubators provide. Even the slightest deviation from ideal conditions can spell disaster. But with a dependable chilled incubator, scientists can be confident that the results of their experiments will be accurate and consistent.
A programmable incubator allows users to create programs that control the temperature and humidity settings, saving time during experimentation. These can be set for varying lengths of time or specific events such as a power outage. Incubators with WiFi capability allow for remote monitoring, which can also be helpful if an experiment must be continued during a power outage.
Some incubators feature an environmentally friendly solid-state thermoelectric cooling system rather than the compressor-based systems found in older models. Thermoelectric technology is energy efficient and accessible to harmful refrigerants such as HFCs with high global warming potential. Thermoelectric incubators are also lightweight and compact, which helps with portability.
Stable Temperature
Many laboratory experiments require maintaining a specific temperature, including cell culture and protein structure analyses. A professional refrigerated incubator is designed to keep the sample compartment at a stable temperature, helping ensure that results will be accurate and reliable.
Some incubators use natural convection or forced air circulation to disperse heat evenly throughout the chamber. This is essential for reducing the risk of moisture condensation inside the sample compartment. It also helps maintain consistent pressure in the sample compartment to minimize temperature variation.
Some incubators also have a phase-change material (PCM) that absorbs and releases latent heating at specific temperatures to stabilize the temperature. This is important because it helps the incubator return to the desired temperature faster after opening the door. Most manufacturers validate the recovery time after door opening according to the DIN standard, revised in 2007. This revision changed the measurement method and resulted in longer recovery times.
Humidity Control
Incubators need to maintain optimal humidity levels to prevent evaporation of samples. They accomplish this through a water pan or atomizers to keep the air humid. This keeps your selections fresh and alive. Humidity measurements are typically done using a hygrometer.
Many labs and industries use incubators to cultivate cells and tissue samples for various purposes like zoology, pharmaceutical research, food science, etc. A whole experiment or study can go wrong without the right temperature and humidity.
A cooled incubator has a phase change material (PCM) inside the sample compartment that absorbs energy to keep the temperature stable. This is a significant advantage over air-jacketed incubators that rely on thermal insulation to maintain the temperature, which can be affected by door openings and power outages. This PCM provides a quick return to the set point temperature after door openings and stable performance during power outages. It also ensures that environmental variables like dust do not impact temperature control.
Safety
Chilled incubators are insulated and have rounded corners, reducing the opportunity for contamination within the chamber. In addition, many professional models come with a lock to prevent tampering and limit access. Some even have a bright touchscreen to display alarms, temperature, and humidity.
In addition, most models use natural convection and forced air circulation to distribute heat evenly throughout the chamber. This reduces condensation, which could lead to corrosion and damage to the interior components.
Incubators create a precise environment for cell and tissue samples, making them ideal for zoology, pharmaceutical research, food science, and microbiology. They’re also energy efficient, utilizing Peltier cooling technology to achieve the defined temperature without harmful chemical refrigerants. They may reach the specified temperature by directly heating the internal chamber or through a water-filled space (water-jacketed). They feature digital displays and molded glass doors for constant monitoring, and some offer ports and outlets for additional equipment.
